Anglers –
July 9, 2016

We are now in the second week of July, weather patterns forming from the southwest continue to push in cooler off colored currents from the Pacific. A pair of hurricanes developed in the past week, both following paths far off to the west, no impact on land was felt. Swells were now minimal, though south winds were more prevalent, most days picking up by mid-day, some days earlier, this keeps the climate bearable, more pleasant with some Pacific breeze, though it does not help the inshore water conditions to improve. Ocean temperatures are ranging from about 71 degrees to 80 degrees. With a distinct temperature line some 30 miles offshore now. A lot can happen in matter of a week or two this time of year, patterns sometimes settle down early in the month, other years not until the end of the month.

Bait situation remains much the same, caballito, moonfish and at times mullet, no smaller sardinas reported from any local resources. Not many anglers using the slabs of squid now either, as there is more trolling starting to go on, as well as the option of jigging over the structure. Inshore action for jacks, roosterfish, snappers, pargo, cabrilla, amberjack, bonito and others, continue to be the more productive option for the local panga fleets. The better action being found from Cardon to Vinorama, often within one mile of shore, though water clarity and temperature has varied from day to day and this has affected the bite accordingly, also lots of sharks on these same grounds, on some days too many, spooky the more sought after species. Dogtooth snapper, amberjack and other snapper or cabrilla species were being accounted for daily, some fish up to 50 lb., though average catch was more in the 8 to 25 lb. range. Yo-yo jigs were working best early in the day, then the more productive option seemed to be with bait, either drift fishing or slowly trolled on the surface.

Not many dorado or wahoo being reported now, though yellowfin tuna are schooling on the grounds from Iman to Vinorama, with three or four miles of shore, scattered action while trolling hoochies and rapalas, these tuna weighed in the 5 to 20 lb. class, many charters accounted for 2,3 or 4 fish, some catching as many as ten. We also heard of some yellowfin tuna to over 200 lb. found some 30 miles offshore on the blue water temperature break outside of Cabo San Lucas, traveling with porpoise, though this was hit or miss and the numbers of fish landed were limited. Also a increased numbers of blue marlin being reported from these same waters further offshore, blues to over 300 lb. were landed, most of these were from larger sportfishers. Striped marlin bite dropped off, though they are still are in the area and an occasional stray dorado is being reported as well, most of these fish being under 15 lb.

Crowds of visitors continue to be only moderate, not very busy, but we have seen some family groups arriving, as this is when many school session are just finishing for the semester. Pacific breezes have kept the climate comfortable, though we all know that the serious summer heat will arrive at any time, we have already had felt the heat, now we are having a slight relief before the real tropical weather patterns set in, so all in all a great time to visit.

The combined panga fleets launching out of La Playita, Puerto Los Cabos Marina sent out approximately 66 charters for the week, with anglers reporting a fish count of: 2 blue marlin, 5 striped marlin, 22 dogtooth snapper, 105 yellowfin tuna, 18 bonito, 7 dorado, 28 amberjack, 15 leopard grouper (cabrilla), 16 pargo colorado, 22 huachinango (red snapper), 19 yellow snapper, 9 barred pargo, 32 jack crevalle and 12 roosterfish.

Good fishing, Eric